Toe stop structure for roller skate



A ril 27, 1965 e. K. WARE 8 Ton STOP STRUCTURE FOR ROLLER SKATE FiledAug. 27, 1962 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3 180 651 TOE STGP STRUCTC RE FOR RGLLER dKATEGordon K. Ware, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Chicago Roller SkateCompany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 27, 1962,Ser. No. 219,637 Claims. (Cl. 280--11.2)

The present invention relates to a novel toe stop structure for rollerskates.

Toe stop structures have heretofore been proposed which include a stopmember formed from rubber or rubber-like material and a supporttherefor, which support may be formed integrally with a sole plate of aroller skate or provided as a separate element or bracket. The

toe stop member has usually been connected with the support means orbracket by a screw element. While certain heretofore proposed toe stopstructures have functioned generally satisfactorily, it has been foundthat when a skater engages the toe stop member against the floor, thereis frequently a tendency of the toe stop member to rotate about its axisin a manner which may cause loosening of the screw and thus loosening ofthe toe stop member. a I

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a noveltoe stop structure of the above-described type which is constructed soas substantially to preclude unauthorized or accidental loosening of thetoe stop member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel toe stopstructure which minimizes any possibility of loosening of the toe stopmember and which is of simple, economical and reliable construction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a skate incorporating a toestop structure constructed in accordance with features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a toe stopstructure incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is aperspective view showing a toe stop member constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary and exploded sectional view showingmating portions of a toe stop member anda toe stop support element inspaced apart relationship; and I FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar toFIG. 5 but shows the parts in fully assembled relationship.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, rollerskate 10 incorporating features of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1. The skate 10 comprises a sole plate 12 and front and rear wheeltruck assemblies 14 and 16 which are constructed and connected with thesole plate in a known manner. A toe stop construction 18 incorporatingfeatures of the present invention is disposed at the forward end of thesole plate.

The toe stop construction 18 comprises a stop member 20 preferablymolded from a rubber or rubber-like friction material. The toe stopmember has a substantially flat upper end or face 22 and a lower end orface 24 which preferably has a rounded marginal edge 26. In order otsecure the toe stop member with respect to the support therefor, whichis described in detail below, a

' screw element 28 in provided. The screw element has a threaded shankportion 30 which extends through a bore 3,188,651 Patented Apr. 27, 196532 in the toe stop member. The toe stop member is provided with anenlarged counterbore 34 for accommodating a head portion 36 of the screwmember.

The toe stop construction further includes a mounting or supportingelement 38 for supporting the stop member 20. In the embodiment shown,the support element 38 is in the form of a boss integral with the soleplate 12. However, it is to be understood that the support element 38could be provided in the form of a separate bracket secured to the soleplate or connected with the front wheel truck 14.

The support element is constructed so as to present a forwardly anddownwardly facing surface 40 adapted to overlie the upper end or surface22 of the stop member 20. The surface 40 has a peripheral configurationsimilar to the configuration of the stop member surface 22, which, inthe embodiment shown, is substantially circular. However, as shown inFIG. 2, the diameter of the surface 40 is substantially lessthan thediameter of the stop member. 7

The stop member is provided with a central internally threaded aperturemeans 42 for threadedly receiving the screw shank 30. In the embodimentshown, the aperture means 42 is in an insert 44, which has externalthreads cooperable with an internally threaded aperture 46 integral withthe support element 38. With this arrangement, toe stop members 20 ofdifferent sizes and having. different sizes of securing screws assembledtherewith may be connected with the support element 38 by selectivelyremoving or replacing the insert 44. This, of course, changes theeffective size of the aperture means within the support element, so thatthe aperture means is adaptable for accommodating securing screws ofdifferent sizes. v

As will be understood, when a skaterengages the toe stop member 20against the floor for accomplishing a braking action, a substantialtorque may be applied tothe toe stop member 20 tending to rotate the toestop member about the screw 28. The direction of such rotation will, ofcourse, depend on the particular. portion of the toe stop member whichis engaged against the floor, but it frequentlyhappens that thedirection of such rotation will cause loosening of the screw member.

In order to prevent'rotation of the. stop member 20 relative to thesupport element 38, means are provided for interlocking these parts withrespect to each other. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and6, the

stop member 20 has a plurality of grooves 48.formed therein and spacedaround the surface 22. The grooves 48 extend substantially radially fromthe screw 28 toward the periphery of the toe stop member. However, it isto be noted that the grooves terminate short of the periphery of the toestop member whereby the toe stop member has a peripherally continuousedge 50. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the grooves 48 is formed so that ithas a substantially triangular cross sectional configuration and so thatopposite sides 52 and 54 thereof are inclined substantially equally fromthe surface 22.

The support element 38 has a plurality of ribs 56 formed integrallytherewith. The ribs 56 extend generally radially of the surface 40 andproject from the surface 40 for cooperative engagement with the grooves48 in the toe stop member 20. As shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, each ofthe ribs 56 has a first side 58 extending generally perpendicularly fromthe surface 40', and a second side 60 which is inclined at an acuteangle with respect to the surface 40 toward the side 58. A rounded outerend 62 joins the sides 58 and 60.

When the stop member 20 is assembled with the sup port element 38, thestop member is first positioned so that its grooves 48 are in alignmentwith the ribs 56. Then the screw member 28 is turned by means of asuitable tool, not shown, for drawing the stop member 20 against thesupport element 38. This action causes the ribs to be forced into thegrooves as shown best in FIG. 6. It is particularly tobe noted thatwhile the surface 60 of each rib is inclined at an angle similar to theinclination of an opposing surface of an associated groove 48, thenon-symmetrical cross section of the rib created by the angular positionof the surface 58 provides the outer end portion 62 of the rib with aneffective thickness or transverse cross section greater than the widthof the narrow bottom portion of an associated V-shaped groove. Thus,when a rib is forced into a groove as shown in FIG. 6, wall portions ofthe groove are deformed, thus allowing intimate and interlocking contactwith the rib.

It is further to be noted that the effective height of each rib isgreater than the effective depth of its associated groove whereby thesurface 22 will be spaced from I the surface 40 even after the screwmember .28 has been fully tightened as shown in FIG. 6. This providesassuri ance that the entire clamping pressure will be applied betweenthe inter-engaging surfaces of the ribs and the grooves whereby tominimize any possibility of slippage between; the grooves and the ribsas a result of the compressibility of the rubber or rubber-like stopmember.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it is obvious that many details may be changed withoutdeparting from the. spirit and scope of the appended claims.

This invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a roller skate construction, a toe. stop structure comprising asupport element presenting a forwardly and downwardly facing generallycircular surface having a threaded aperture means therein, a pluralityof spaced d for supporting the stop member with the face thereof spacedfrom the surface of said support element.

2. Atoe stop structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said ribsincludes opposite side surfaces inclined at different amounts withrespect to said, surface for promoting wedging of the ribs into saidgroove means.

- 3. Atoe. stop structure, as defined inclaim 1, wherein said stopmember comprises a continuous and uninterrupted peripheral edgeportion'surrounding and closing radially outer ends of said groove meansand partially covering radially outer ends of said ribs.

4. A toe stop structure for a roller skate comprising a Y supportelement for presenting a forwardly and downribs onsaid element, saidribs extending generally radially of said aperture means and projectingfrom said surface, said ribs extending substantially straight fromimmediately adjacent said aperture means continuously substantially toaperipheral edge of said surface, a stop member having a face disposed inopposing relationship to said engaging with said ribs :for positivelocking of said stop member against rotation relative to said supportelement,-

the length of said groove means and said ribs being sub stantiallygreater than transverse dimensions of the ribs 7 and groove means,'andthe thickness of the outer end portions of the ribs being greater thanthe width of the:

bottom portions of associated groovesmeans whereby the sides of the ribsengage the sides of the groove means wardlyfacing surface having apredetermined diameter, said element having; generally centrally locatedinternally threaded a-perture means therein, a plurality ofannularlyspaced ribs integral with said element, said ribs extending generallyradially of said aperture means and from immediately adjacent saidaperture means substantially straight to immediately adjacent aperipheral edge of said surface, said ribs having a predetermined heightand projecting from said surface of said element, a stop member ofresilient material having a face disposed in opposing and slightlyaxially spaced relationsbipwith respect to said surface, a screw elementconnected with said stop member and threaded intosaid aperture means,and a plurality of generally radially extending groove means having agenerally V-shaped transverse cross section in said stop member face,receiving and interengaging with said ribs for locking said stop memberagainst rotation relative to said support element, said groovemeanshavingsubstantially straigbt-flat side surfacesmerging along a narrowapex and said ribs including substantially straight fiat opposite sidesurfaces joined by blunt rounded o'uterend marginswhi'ch engage the sidesurfaces of said groove means above said narrow apex.- in wedgingcontact for supporting the stop member with the face thereof spaced fromthe surface of said support element.

References-Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,595,751 5/52Balstad 2s0 11.2 X 2,706,641 4/55 Van Horn 280-11.2 2,719,723 10/55 jWare zen-11.2 3,003,776 10/61 Ware s r 28041.2 3,035,846 5/62 Asad s28011.2

PHILIP'ARNOLD, Primary Examiner. i i

A. HARRY LEVY, Examinen.

1. IN A ROLLER SKATE CONSTRUCTION, A TOE STOP STRUCTURE COMPRISING ASUPPORT ELEMENT PRESENTING A FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FACING GENERALLYCIRCULAR SURFACE HAVING A PREDETERMINED DIAMETER, SAID ELEMENT HAVINGINTERNALLY THREADED APERTURE MEANS THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF SPACED RIBSON SAID ELEMENT, SAID RIBS EXTENDING GENERALLY RADIALLY OF SAID APERTUREMEANS AND PROJECTING FROM SAID SURFACE, SAID RIBS EXTENDINGSUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT FROM IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID APERTURE MEANSCONTINUOUSLY SUBSTANTIALLY TO A PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID SURFACE, A STOPMEMBER HAVING A FACE DISPOSED IN OPPOSING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SURFACEAND A DIAMETER GREATER THAN SAID SURFACE DIAMETER, AND A SCREW MEMBERCONNECTED WITH SAID STOP MEMBER AND THREADED INTO SAID APERTURE MEANS,SAID STOP MEMBERS HAVING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING GROOVE MEANSIN SAID FACE THEREOF, SAID GROOVE MEANS HAVING A RADIAL LENGTH AT LEASTAS GREAT AS SAID RIBS AND RECEIVING AND INTERENGAGING WITH SAID RIBS FORPOSITIVE LOCKING OF SAID STOP MEMBER AGAINST ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAIDSUPPORT ELEMENT, THE LENGTH OF SAID GROOVE MEANS AND SAID RIBS BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS OF THE RIBS AND GROOVEMEANS, AND THE THICKNESS OF THE OUTER END PORTIONS OF THE RIBS BEINGGREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE BOTTOM PORTIONS OF ASSOCIATED GROOVE MEANSWHEREBY THE SIDES OF THE RIBS ENGAGE THE SIDES OF THE GROOVE MEANS FORSUPPORTING THE STOP MEMBER WITH THE FACE THEREOF SPACED FROM THE SURFACEOF SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT.